Diver by Tony Groom
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The Book Diver.......What can be said about, its a well written book shooting from the hip I bought the book at 1600hrs and had 150 pages read by 2400hrs, for getting to have dinner in the process. And its not often you forget about having dinner when reading a book. (when was the last time that happened to you)? I can relate to the humor as my family have either being Royal Navy or Merchent. The best part of the book for me (well there where serveral) one being about Capnot, Boobing Trapping the toilet, Buttons, the exploded fish, And postcards to a man called Darling...... (being in the same frame of mind i have also done this to a few Ex Foremen, and contract managers). Tony goes to great length informing the reader whats involved in being a Clearance diver, and being a Sat diver. This alone would give a good insight in to what its really like working in Davy Jones Locker.
This is the first book that i can call a magnet, Due to its pulling power to read.
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Top marks for Mr. Groom and "Diver"
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I enjoyed Tony Groom's book immensely and on several levels.
An honest and real tale. There is a welcomed absence of the pretentiousness typical in many first time writing efforts. From the first page the "just one of the guys" personality Tony and his comrades exemplify comes through. Yet at the same time he subtly allows the reader to come to the realization that these are far from "regular guys". "Diver" allows the reader to experience the genuinely heroic actions of some remarkable, "regular guys". I cannot imagine anyone not enjoying as well as benefiting from reading this book. This well told story is exciting and inspiring, a story of ordinary men doing extraordinary things, which ultimately is the best sort of story there is.
For someone who had not made writing the focus of their schooling or career path, Tony Groom has a great deal to be proud of with "Diver". I am fortunate to have found this book and enjoyed reading it. I cherish the fact that I have a signed copy and have been allowed a glimpse into the world of someone who has lived life well and whose actions have allowed others to carry on with their own!
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Couldn't Put It Down...
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This is a great book full of humour and true diving stories from the Falklands to the cold north sea.
Anyone considering diving as a profession should read this book in my opinion. There is alot of information for a prospective commercial/navy diver to be absorbed from this book, and you'll have a laugh too...
5/5
Gav
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Fantastic Read
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I had seen this book at the LIDS and meant to pick up a copy there, but as always time just ran away and i never got the chance. So i picked up a copy at a later date and havent put it down since starting.
Being both a diver and in the military it held great appeal to me. The books tells all the tales of a mans career and life in diving.
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in diving, the military or life in general!!
Great Read, Highly Recommended!!
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Diving Escapades
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Here's one of the more unusual books I have read due to my interest in things maritime, definitely widening my knowledge and increasing my respect for those who spend their working lives diving and working underwater. Give it to sons, students, budding pirates, and be sure to read it yourself. It's an account of the life of a Royal Navy diver, chock full of excitement, danger, pranks and friendship and a later on-the-edge commercial career diving in the North Sea. It was hellishly hard to show the stamina and commitment even to get chosen, and Tony was lucky many times over. What better punishment for insubordination than being flown to the paradise island of Tuvalu in the South Pacific, even if their Hercules left foot-deep gauges in the short coral runway, watched by the grass skirted native women waiting to put shell necklaces over their heads? Clearing mines in the seabed and avoiding sharks inaugurated a stock of hair-raising stories. Then the Falklands War began: without these divers clearing unexploded bombs lodged in ships and seabed British casualties would have been far worse, and it was done in the greatest peril and often while under fire, adapting their training to suit these hardest of circumstances. Tony's account is hair raising and impossible to put down, drawing on his diary, the memories of his mates, and the minute details of being under bombardment when every minute could be your last. It's written as if you're sitting on a berth or in a bar with him: frank, no-holds-barred, full of rough humour and close camaderie.
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